Lariat honda

ABSTRACT

A releasable lariat honda having a pair of fingers extending from a yoke or body. At least one of the fingers is segmented and has loading means associated therewith whereby the finger tips of the honda are urged toward each other. The yoke holding the pair of fingers has a stem extending rearwardly therefrom. Said stem defines a bore which extends through the yoke and has a longitudinal axis which extends through the point of intersection of the fingertips. The stem and the yoke are adapted to holdingly receive a lariat. In the preferred embodiment, the stem defines a helix, which helix is carried through the yoke on one side.

Unite States atent 2,592,696 4/1952 Hoody 24/ll5FUX PrimaryExaminerDonald A. Griffin Attorney-James E. Marquardt ABSTRACT: Areleasable lariat honda having a pair of fingers extending from a yokeor body. At least one of the fingers is segmented and has loading meansassociated therewith whereby the finger tips of the honda are urgedtoward each other. The yoke holding the pair of fingers has a stemextending rearwardly therefrom. Said stem defines a bore which extendsthrough the yoke and has a longitudinal axis which extends through thepoint of intersection of the fingertips. The stem and the yoke areadapted to holdingly receive a lariat. In the preferred embodiment, thestem defines a helix, which helix is carried through the yoke on oneside.

PATENTEU [152281971 3529.908

INVENTOR.

WILEY M. PHILLIPS ATTORNEY LARIAT HONDA My invention relates to animproved lariat honda, and more particularly to a lariat honda adaptedfor quick release for use in practice roping.

Individuals learning to rope animals generally start their instructiveperiod by learning to cast a loop, formed in a lariat, about astationary object. In the past, upon successful casting of the loop, itwas necessary for the individual to approach the target and remove theloop therefrom. It is apparent, therefore, that a honda which willrelease the loop from the target without the necessity of the individualapproaching the target will permit a larger number of successful castsin a given period of time.

Releaseable hondas previously attempted were generally complex ofmanufacture, heavy in weight, or dependent upon the natural resiliencyof the material of construction. Further, previous devices generallyrequired that the rope be specially adapted to be secured to the honda.

The principal object of my invention is to provide a lightweight lariathonda which is easily attached to a lariat and which may be quicklyreleased during practice roping without the user approaching the targetobject.

It is another object of my invention to provide an improved lariat hondawhich is relatively inexpensive and simple of manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent in thecourse of the following specification and claims when taken in view ofthe accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an isometric of one embodiment of my invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of one embodiment of my invention with a schematicrepresentation of a lariat as it is functionally employed with myinvention.

FIG. 3 is a partial view, illustrating an alternative means forreleaseably holding a lariat within the aperture formed by the honda ofmy invention; and

FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view taken along 4-4 of FIG. 3.

With reference now to the drawings, and particularly the FIGS. 1 and 2,my improved lariat honda comprises a yoke l0, a pair of fingers 11, anda stem 12. The fingers 11 extend forwardly from the yoke and contact oneanother at their tips 14, thereby forming an aperture through which alariat 15 may pass. At least one of the fingers 11 is segmented. Thesegments are hingedlyjoined at the knuckle 16, the movable segment 17pivoting about the pin 18 which passes through the stationary portion ofthe segmented finger 11. A spring 19 is secured to the stationarysegment of the finger I1 and engages the movable segment 17, therebyurging said movable segment 17 to pivot about the knuckle 16 so that thefingertips 14 are main tained in contact.

Spring 19 is secured to the stationary portion of the finger 11 by ascrew 20. If desired, additional threaded apertures 22 may be providedso that the pressure of the spring 19 on the movable segment 17 offinger 11 is adjustable by moving the point at which the spring issecured to the stationary portion forwardly or rearwardly.

As illustrated in the drawings, the fingers ll taper from their juncturewith the yoke 10 to their narrowest portion at their tips 14. Ifdesired, both fingers 11 may be segmented.

Segmenting of both fingers provides the additional advantage ofuniformity in separation of the fingertips when a target has beenlassoed and the operator desires to release the rope or lariat from thehonda.

Stem 12 is integral with the yoke 10 and extends rearwardly therefrom.Stem l2 defines a bore 23 whose longitudinal axis extends through thepoint of intersection of the fingertips 14. Stem 12 has a helical shape,which helix is carried through the yoke 10 on one side. The lariat 15 isprovided with a thickened portion illustrated, for convenience in theaccompanying drawings, as a knot 24. To secure the honda to the lariat,the rope or lariat 15 is simply laid across the open portion of thehelix with the thickened portion 24 of the lariat within the aperturedefined by the yoke 10 and the fingers ll of the honda. Straightening ofthe lariat 15 in the bore 23 completes assembly of the lariat and honda.Disassembly is equally simple, being the reverse of the foregoing.

I prefer to construct my honda of cast aluminum alloy or similarlightweight material. For example, the various magnesium alloys could beadvantageously employed. Further, if desired, the honda may be machinedfrom solid material, but ordinarily this would be prohibitive in cost.

After the lariat 15 has been assembled with the honda, the fingertips 14of the honda are forced apart and a portion of the lariat is insertedinto the aperture defined by the yoke 10 and the fingers ll of thehonda. The loop thus formed is cast at the target, the loop passing overor around the target. By pulling on the lariat, the fingers 11 areforced apart at their tips 14 and the lariat I5 is released for recoveryby the individual practicing roping.

FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate an alternative embodiment ofmy invention whichmodifies the structure somewhat, but embodies the same principle.Stationary segment 30 and movable segment 31 are pivotally joined at aknuckle and rotate about pin 34. The movable segment 31 has a rearwardlyextending lever 35 which extends along the inner surface of thestationary segment 30. Rubberband means 36 resiliently urges said lever35 toward the inner side of said stationary segment 30. In this manner,the fingertips of the honda are urged toward each other. Adjustment inthe loading of the fingertips toward each other may be made by varyingthe size or number of rubberbands or rubber rings 36.

My improved lariat honda is easily secured to and detached from alariat. Thus, the person practicing roping need not have a plurality oflariats, but can use same lariat for practice and for work. Further,release of a practice loop from the target is simply and easilyaccomplished by a tug on the lariat, obviating the need to approach thetarget after each successful cast.

Various modifications may be made in my invention without departing fromthe spirit or scope thereof, and it is to be understood that I limitmyself only as defined by the appended claims.

Iclaim:

1. An improved lariat honda comprising a yoke, a pair of fingers and astem, said fingers extending forwardly from said yoke and arched totouch at their tips, thereby defining an aperture to pass a lariat, atleast one of said fingers being segmented, said segments pivotallyjoined at a knuckle, said segmented finger having resilient loadingmeans associated therewith whereby the segment remote from said yoke isurged to pivot about said knuckle toward the tip of the other finger,said stem extending rearwardly from said yoke and defining a bore, saidbore passing through said stem and through the body of said yoke, thelongitudinal axis of said bore extending through the point of contactbetween said fingers, said stem adapted to holdingly receive a lariatend having a thickened portion.

2. The improved lariat honda of claim I wherein said stem defines ahelix, said helix being carried through said yoke on one side.

3. The improved lariat honda of claim 2 wherein both of said fingers aresegmented and said loading means associated with the segments remotefrom said yoke is adjustable.

4. The improved lariat honda of claim 1 wherein both of said fingers aresegmented.

5. The improved lariat honda of claim 1 wherein said resilient loadingmeans is adjustable.

6. The improved lariat honda of claim 1 wherein said loading meanscomprises a spring secured to the stationary portion of each segmentedfinger.

7. The improved lariat honda of claim 6 wherein said spring is securedto said stationary portion by screw means and said stationary portiondefines a plurality of threaded apertures whereby the point at whichsaid spring is secured to said stationary portion may be moved forwardlyor rearwardly, thereby to adjust the. loading on said movable segment.

lever toward the inner side of said stationary segment, thereby urgingthe tips of said fingers toward each other.

10. The improved lariat honda of claim 9 wherein said stem defines ahelix, said helix carried through said yoke on one side.

1. An improved lariat honda comprising a yoke, a pair of fingers and astem, said fingers extending forwardly from said yoke and arched totouch at their tips, thereby defining an aperture to pass a lariat, atleast one of said fingers being segmented, said segments pivotallyjoined at a knuckle, said segmented finger having resiliant loadingmeans associated therewith whereby the segment remote from said yoke isurged to pivot about said knuckle toward the tip of the other finger,said stem extending rearwardly from said yoke and defining a bore, saidbore passing through said stem and through the body of said yoke, thelongitudinal axis of said bore extending through the point of contacTbetween said fingers, said stem adapted to holdingly receive a lariatend having a thickened portion.
 2. The improved lariat honda of claim 1wherein said stem defines a helix, said helix being carried through saidyoke on one side.
 3. The improved lariat honda of claim 2 wherein bothof said fingers are segmented and said loading means associated with thesegments remote from said yoke is adjustable.
 4. The improved lariathonda of claim 1 wherein both of said fingers are segmented.
 5. Theimproved lariat honda of claim 1 wherein said resilient loading means isadjustable.
 6. The improved lariat honda of claim 1 wherein said loadingmeans comprises a spring secured to the stationary portion of eachsegmented finger.
 7. The improved lariat honda of claim 6 wherein saidspring is secured to said stationary portion by screw means and saidstationary portion defines a plurality of threaded apertures whereby thepoint at which said spring is secured to said stationary portion may bemoved forwardly or rearwardly, thereby to adjust the loading on saidmovable segment.
 8. The improved lariat honda of claim 7 wherein saidstem defines a helix, said helix carried through said yoke on one side.9. The improved lariat honda of claim 1 wherein the movable segment ofeach segmented finger has a rearwardly extending lever extending alongthe inner surface of the stationary segment and rubberband means ispositioned to urge said lever toward the inner side of said stationarysegment, thereby urging the tips of said fingers toward each other. 10.The improved lariat honda of claim 9 wherein said stem defines a helix,said helix carried through said yoke on one side.